Michelle urges Abbie to get to know the strangers from the lobby

Abbie spun around in place, giddy from the teasing in the lobby. "I'm always ready for anything, Michelle."

"I love this woman," Michelle said to no one in particular. "You have a wild side like I've never seen!" She turned to Jake and put her hand on his face, gently rubbing his cheek, feeling the slight end-of-the-day stubble. "How do you keep up with this?"

Jake laughed. "I just ... do my best."

Michelle nodded. "Just do your best. Like, that's not a method, that's not even an answer." She looked at Abbie, then at Jake, then back to Abbie again. "If you're ready for anything, I have to assume that he's ready for anything. Right?"

Abbie smiled. "I haven't seen him back down from a challenge yet." She ran her hand up Jake's arm. Her touch was more tender and more affectionate than Michelle's.

"Okay," Michelle said, sizing up the situation. "Then let's see if I can push this too far. Just to see." She took hold of the lapels of Jake's jacket. "You and I are going to get out of the way." She looked back at Abbie. "And you, aren't you still curious about those boys over there?"

Abbie shifted her eyes slightly to the men she had been teasing. They were still there, and one of them caught sight of Abbie as she looked at them. He said something to the other, who then turned to look at Abbie again.

"I am. Very curious." Abbie smiled. She was excited by Michelle's suggestion, and in turn, her smile served as a signal to the men. "I think they're still curious, too."

"Good," said Michelle. "Jake, take me away and let this little butterfly be free."

"She's always free," said Jake. "But yeah. You want to get another drink?"

Michelle scoffed at Jake, and then spoke to Abbie. "Is it okay with you if I take your boy toy back up to your room?"

"Mm-hm." Abbie replied, but her focus was still on the other men.

"If what he really wants is a drink, I'm sure you have a minibar." Michelle looked at Jake. "But in case any other ideas occur to him ... well, that's where we'll be. In your room."

"Mm-hm," Abbie said again.

"And maybe we'll see you in a little bit?"

"Maybe you will," Abbie said, though her tone was far from indecisive.

Michelle went on. "And if you happen to have company with you, I'm sure that would be fun. Don't you think?"

Abbie turned back to Michelle with a twinkle in her eye. "You think I'm going to bring these boys up to the room?"

"It's a possibility, isn't it?"

Abbie shrugged. "Sure, I suppose it is."

Jake opened his mouth as if to speak, but stopped.

"What is it?" Abbie asked him.

Jake again prepared to say something, but couldn't find the words. "I was ... I think I was going to tell you ... you know, it doesn't matter."

Abbie took Jake's hands and turned her back to the lobby, giving Jake her full attention. "You were going to tell me that I didn't have to do this, right?"

Jake was silent, but Abbie understood his silence as agreement.

"I'm good, Jake. I don't do things I don't want to do."

"And you want to ... go meet those guys?"

Abbie shrugged again, smiling. "Sure, why not? Maybe we'll have a good time."

"You're Abbie," Jake said. "You always have a good time."

"I know!" Abbie giggled and bounced in place.

"And you don't mind Michelle **** me? God only know what she has in mind."

Abbie's eyes darted toward Michelle, and then back to Jake. "I think we all know what she has in mind."

Michelle nodded. "We do. Come on, Jake. Your girl's going to make some new friends."

Abbie watched as Michelle hooked her arm around Jake's and turned him away from her. In moments, they had vanished toward the elevators. Abbie watched them go, and then took a moment to collect her thoughts. She looked down at herself, pleased with her appearance. She took a deep breath, and let it out.

Wouldn't it be funny if those guys weren't even there anymore? she thought. What if I turn around and they're gone? Or with other people? Or wives? She imagined Michelle and Jake heading upstairs. I suppose I'd just go up to the room and catch Jake and Michelle in the middle of whatever they're doing. And I know what they're doing. She smiled at the thought of Michelle aggressively seducing Jake, knowing full well that it wouldn't be the other way around.

Jake is so ... sweet, she thought. She felt fortunate to have Jake in her life, even if she didn't fully understand what kind of relationship they had. Too sweet for Michelle, that's for sure. She giggled again, picturing the two of them together. She wondered whether Michelle would still be in their room whenever she got back. Or for that matter, if Jake would be. She shook her head, shaking thoughts of the two of them from her mind.